After a humiliating 0-4 trouncing by holders Afghanistan in the opener, Mamunul Islam and his men have been outplayed 1-3 by the Maldives in their second Group B match on Saturday.
Bangladesh had a chance to go through until Afghanistan beat unfancied Bhutan 3-0 to seal the fate of the men in green and red.
As a result, Afghanistan and Maldives went through to the semi-finals from the group, leaving Bangladesh and Bhutan to play out a dead rubber.
Bangladesh, the winners of the 2003 edition, had bowed out from the group phase of the biennial tournament in the last two tournaments as well.
They made four changes to the side that lost to Afghanistan. Topu Barman, Waly Faysal, Raihan Hasan and Jamal Bhuiyan replaced the injured Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeamin Munna, Nasirul Islam and Sohel Rana.
The changes seemed to work in the beginning as Bangladesh attacked regularly and were tight in defence at Kerala’s Trivandrum International Stadium.
But better possession in the first half did not lead to goals as Bangladesh wasted a string of chances
Having squandered a crucial opening early in the first match, Shakhawat Rony missed again at the half-hour mark.
He managed to stay onside and latched onto the ball inside the box but fired it straight into the Maldivian goalkeeper.
The Red Snappers took the lead just before half-time through a penalty that was awarded for a handball by Waly, who was also cautioned for it. Malidves captain Ali Ashfaq converted the spotkick.
After more missed chances in the second half, the coach turned to his attacking option and replaced midfielder Jamal with striker Nabib Newaj Jibon.
Moments later Rony’s flicked on to the goal from a Mamunul free-kick but was again denied by the goalkeeper.
Zahid Hossain missed another chance before Bangladesh equalised in the 88th minute.
Mamunul’s corner was headed outside the box where Topu volleyed hard and it deflected into the net.
But Bangladesh’s joy was shortlived.
A fine back flick from Maldives substitute Niaz Hassan restored their lead in the 90th minute before Ahmed Nashid netted from a counterattack in the final seconds of the match.
Source: bdnews24
